PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a crippling disease with a high worldwide prevalence. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent studies which define the global impact of COPD on quality of life. There are direct implications for care. RECENT FINDINGS: Dyspnea is a dominant and defining symptom for patients with COPD, but the overall degree of impairment suffered by patients with COPD extends far beyond shortness of breath. A series of recent studies gives us insight into both the physical and the psychosocial burdens of the disease and their negative net effects upon quality of life. The suffering of patients with COPD is similar to that of patients with cancer, and palliative measures have been shown to be an important component of comprehensive care. SUMMARY: The symptom burden in patients with severe COPD is high and is comparable to that of patients with cancer. Ironically, patients with COPD could be said to suffer more than those with cancer; the symptom burden is similar, but patients with COPD tend to live longer. The literature is replete with evidence that a palliative care approach to patients with cancer increases the quality of life (and perhaps even the quality of death). The same palliative care approach can and should be used for patients with COPD. There are now objective data to support the benefits of such an approach.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a crippling disease with a high worldwide prevalence. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent studies which define the global impact of COPD on quality of life. There are direct implications for care. RECENT FINDINGS:Dyspnea is a dominant and defining symptom for patients with COPD, but the overall degree of impairment suffered by patients with COPD extends far beyond shortness of breath. A series of recent studies gives us insight into both the physical and the psychosocial burdens of the disease and their negative net effects upon quality of life. The suffering of patients with COPD is similar to that of patients with cancer, and palliative measures have been shown to be an important component of comprehensive care. SUMMARY: The symptom burden in patients with severe COPD is high and is comparable to that of patients with cancer. Ironically, patients with COPD could be said to suffer more than those with cancer; the symptom burden is similar, but patients with COPD tend to live longer. The literature is replete with evidence that a palliative care approach to patients with cancer increases the quality of life (and perhaps even the quality of death). The same palliative care approach can and should be used for patients with COPD. There are now objective data to support the benefits of such an approach.
Authors: Rebecca A Aslakson; Lynn F Reinke; Christopher Cox; Erin K Kross; Roberto P Benzo; J Randall Curtis Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Esther Dajczman; Chantal Robitaille; Pierre Ernst; Andrew Michael Hirsch; Norman Wolkove; David Small; Judy Bianco; Hartley Stern; Mark Palayew Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2013 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Vivi L Christensen; Tone Rustøen; Bruce A Cooper; Christine Miaskowski; Anne H Henriksen; Signe B Bentsen; Are M Holm Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2016-08-02
Authors: Rebecca A Raphaely; Maria A Mongiardo; Rebekah L Goldstein; Stephanie A Robinson; Emily S Wan; Marilyn L Moy Journal: BMC Pulm Med Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 3.317
Authors: David Price; Mark Small; Gary Milligan; Victoria Higgins; Esther Garcia Gil; Jordi Estruch Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2013-11-27